Flush tank ball operator



Jan l, 1952 G. R. DRlsKlLL 2,586,531

FLUSH TANK BALL OPERATOR Filed Nov. 24. 195o @MA/m HTTOQNEVS Patented Jan. 1, 1952 UNITED y ES PATENT OFFICE 2,580,531 y FLUSH TANK OPERATOR George lhislril'l, San Bernardino, Calif. Application November 24, 1950, Serial No. `197,226

Y This inventionrelates to improvements in nus t'ank ball operatorsyand may be `considered as an improvement over 'the construction disclosed in my United States LettersPatent No. 2,524,897, issued October 10, 1950.'

An object of the `present invention is to provide an improved means for guiding the 'stem of the flush tank balise that the ball and stem will move toward and away from the seat for the ball without rotation. The improved guide means is so constructed as `to facilitate its construction and assembly and its adjustment at the time of installation.

Another object of the invention i's to provide an improved lever construction which is voperable or swingable by the handle on 'the exterior of the flush tank whereby desirable mechanical ladvantagesare obtained to lift the ball 'from its s'e'at.

With the foregoing and other objectsiin view. which will be made manifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointed out in the appended claim, reference is had to the accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 isa sectional view through a flush tank illustrating the mechanism embodying the present invention as having been installed therein, and illustrating the ball on its lower or seated position;

Fig, 2 is a partial view similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating the ball in its lifted position;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially upon the line 3--3 upon Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken substantially upon the line 4-4 upon Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a detail of construction; and

Fig. 6 is another perspective Aview illustrating a detail of construction.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, the ilush tank I is supplied with water through a supply pipe II in the conventional manner. The outlet I 2 is controlled by the flush tank ball I3 which is adapted to seat on a seat I4. Adjacent the seat there is the conventional upstanding overflow pipe I5.

The operating mechanism embodying the present invention consists of a bracket composed of a clamp I6 consisting of two opposed semi-circular parts equipped with ears and adapted to be held in Aclamping relationship around the overflow pipe I as by bolts I1. One of these parts has an internally threaded boss I8 integral therewith adapted to receive a threaded stud I9 which is heldin adjusted position therein as by a set screw 2|). The balance of the bracket consists of a relatively 'simple casting 2 I having a threaded aperture `therein adapted to receive the stud I9. jamb nut 22 on the stud may be ytightened against the casting to hold the casting in adjusted position with relation to the clamp. The casting has positioned thereagainst a sheet metal guide, this guide being bent to `provide a forward wall 23 'and rearwardly bent sides 24 and 25 which embrace the .sides of the casting. The longer of these 'sides has a single bolt 25 extended therethrough which fastens the sheet metal guide to the casting. A small clearance between the forward side23 and the forward side of the casting enables slight pivotal adjustment of the guide with relation to the casting 2I about the bolt 26 asa center. The top and bottom of the forward side 2-3 are bent forwardly as at 21 and 28, respectively, and in these forwardly bent portions there are aligned pairs of apertures. The central pair of apertures indicated at 29 is adapted to have the stem 30 of the ball I3 slidably extended therethrough. The side apertures 3l .and 32 .are adapted to have the sides of an inverted U-shaped guide slidably extended therethrough, such sides being indicated at 33 and 34. These sides are connected by a top cross bar 35 around which the top of the stem 30 is bent. The sides 33 and 34 extend downwardly to a level approximately equal with the top of the tank ball I3 so that in all positions of the tank ball the sides 33 and 34 slidably extend through the portions 21 and 28. The stem 3U, together with the sides 33 and 34, being thus connected causes the tank ball I3 to move toward and away from its seat I4 without rotation.

As a means for elevating the tank ball from its seat the casting 2| is equipped with a hanger 36 through which a wire crank pivotally extends. This crank has a relatively short arm 3l that is bent approximately as illustrated and which extends between the side 33 and the stem 30 so as to be engageable with the under side of the cross bar 35. The long arm of the crank indicated at 3B is bent around a rivet 39 or the equivalent to form a pivotal connection with a telescopic lever. This telescopic lever is made up of a length of tubing 4U within which is slidable a wire 4I. Preferably, the end of the wire has an auxiliary section 42 secured thereto such as by a small section of sheet metal indicated at 43 and the ends of the wire 4I and the section 42 are wrapped around the rivet 39. The tube 4G is adjustably secured to a rock shaft 44 such as by a set screw 45. This rock shaft extends through a hollow bushing 46 that extends through a wall of the ush tank and is engageable with a handle 41. The handle 47 on being depressed rotates the rock shaft thus swinging the telescopic lever from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2. On release of the lever the parts may return to the position shown in Fig. l by gravity but preferably a torsion spring 48 is employed, urging the telescopic lever downwardly.

It will be observed from the above described construction that the telescopic lever swings through a relatively long arc and to accommodate itself to the positions required by the crank arm 38 the wire 4l merely slides lengthwise Within the tube 40. With this arrangement, at the time that the short arm 31 engages the cross bar 35 and commences to lift the tank ball I3 a substantial mechanical advantage is obtainable in lifting the tank ball from its seat. A maximum mechanical advantage is desired at this time inasmuch as the initial unseating of the tank ball requires the maximumeiort to be imposed on the stem 30. After the tank ball has been unseated the lifting of the tank ball away from its seat is relatively easily accomplished, and mechanical advantage at that time is of no important consideration. Consequently, as the telescopic lever is swung from the position shown in Fig.-1 to the position shown in Fig. 2 a maximum mechanical advantage is available at the time that the tank ball is initially lifted from its seat, and thereafter a complete lifting of the tank ball until it engages the portion 28 is easily accomplished. The improved construction is advantageous also in the adjustment of the sheet metal guide relative to the casting 2| about the bolt 26 as a center is easily accomplished at the time of initial installation. It is also possible to spring this sheet metal guide at the time of installation so that the apertures 29, 3|, and 32 will be properly positioned to guide the stem 30 and cause the ball I3. to properly engage its seat.

From the v"above-described constructionl it will be appreciated that the improved operator can be easily and economically manufactured and installed and possesses a number of advantages with respect to the installation and adjustment of the device and with respect to the ability to lift the tank ball from its seat with the desired mechanical advantage.

l Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claim.

I claim:

A ilush tank ball operator comprising a bracket attachable to the overow pipe of a flush tank. a sheet metal guide mounted thereon for pivotal adjustment, said guide having upper and lower flanges with aligned pairs of apertures therein, a

viiush tank ball having a stem slidable through one pair of apertures, an inverted U-shaped guide having sides slidable through the other pairs of apertures and having a cross bar to which the stem is connected, a crank pivotally mounted upon the bracket having an arm engageable with the cross bar, a telescopic lever pivotally connected to the crank, and means for swinging the telescopic lever.

' GEORGE R. DRISIULL.

REFERENCES CITED The-following references are of recordv in the le of this patent:

, UNITED STATES PATENTS 

